Scours and Up-to-Date Information

 

So, here we are trying to pin down some possible management changes that could reduce scours treatment rates for preweaned calves on a dairy farm. Treatment rates since mid-March have been very high - not killing calves - taking a LOT of labor, however, to keep calves hydrated.

Colostrum bacteria culture data - yes - unfortunately the samples data are dated late November. At that time bacteria levels were at acceptable levels. A lot could change in four months?

Blood serum total protein data - yes - 37 samples of which 32 were from before March 1st.  Using all 37 samples we find 78% equal to or above 5.2 (Goal=90%) and 73% equal to or above 5.5 (Goal=80%).

Looking only at BSTP since March 25th 67% were below 5.2. Not looking good here. 

Diagnostic lab data are dated 11/19/12, 12/3/12, 12/4/12, and 12/8/12. At least these confirm that salmonella was not present. Basically everything else (viruses, bacteria, parasites) that is common on dairy farms was present. 

Where are we going to start?

1. culture a current "as-fed" sample of colostrum

2. culture a current  "as-fed" sample of milk

3. get as many current BSTP samples as there are calves between 1 and 7 days of age

4. On-farm observe feeding practices looking for consistency (seeConsistency check list) in management practices.

More on this case study after I have a chance to visit the farm.

 Coccidiosis and Shedding

 

In a presentation about coccidiosis at the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association meetings Dr. Sheila McGuirk talked about shedding. That's the process where an infected heifer passes eggs (sporulated oocysts) in her feces.

The significance of her remarks about shedding is in the close connection between shedding rates and infection levels. When the infection level is high, so is shedding. And, high rates of shedding in a pen of heifers leads to even higher rates of infection among more animals.

Thus, the action called for in controlling coccidiosis, therefore, is to adopt practices that reduce shedding. Her short list includes:

• Clean, well-bedded resting space for calves.
• Optimize ventilation in the barn and calf or heifer pens. 
• Provide adequate feed space per animal.
• Minimize weight and age variation between animals in the group.
• Avoid feeding on the ground unless it is at a bunk.
• Provide 12" of linear water space per 10 animals.
• Treat infected animals.
• Maximize time between successive occupants of the same pen. 

It's all a numbers game. Controlling shedding, even in a pen of heifers that seem "healthy," cuts exposure. Lower exposure levels mean better feed conversion rates.

Ventilation, Ventilation, Ventilation

 

Phone call yesterday, "Calves are sick. We are treating half a dozen new cases every day."

 

Group housing, ad lib acidified milk feeding, curtains on both sides of barn on east and west sides, positive-tube mechanical ventilation.

 

First thing to note today is that curtains are all the way up in spite of 40+ temperature [It is raining with a steady 5-10 mph wind from the west]. Yes, both the west and east curtains are all the way up. If you look up you will not see the positive ventilation tubes. Although they arrived last fall they have not been installed.

 

Good quality air does not just happen. It takes effort. Like lowering the east curtain. Like installing the positive air tubes.

 

Why is it that sometimes I feel as if I am shouting down a well when delivering recommendations?    

Refractometers

Changes seem to be coming every year in the equipment we have available for on-farm estimates of colostrum quality and blood serum total protein levels. 

 

I was interested that the newest models (digital) have a menu so you can choose among 2 or more fluids to test.

 

If you are shopping keep in mind the increased flexibility of these digital refractometers - they look like a good buy to me.  

When is Colostrum Not Colostrum?

 

"Anything collected longer than 4 hours post-calving is not colostrum." That is the statement made by Dr. Fernando Soberon during the seminar, "Colostrum and its importance beyond passive immunity."

This breakout session at the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association meeting in Lancaster PA on April 4 and 5 had a number of similarly challenging breakout sessions. 

 

So, what was Dr. Soberon talking about? He was drawing on research that shows declining antibody concentrations in colostrum the longer we wait for the first milking of a fresh cow. 

 

These data show that by 14 hours post-calving the antibody concentration is, on the average, down 33 percent from what it was shortly after calving. That value, 33 percent of original antibody concentration, is similar to the typical concentration of second milkings of fresh cows. 

 

So, maybe he was pushing the limits by saying 4 hours but the general point was well taken. If you want to harvest the antibodies that a cow has spent several weeks concentrating in the udder, you need to milk her as soon as practical after she calves. 

 

More this week from the DCHA meetings.      

Newborn calf care tips

 Dr. Sheila McGuirk gave a list of tips for newborn care especially for assisted deliveries:

•  get calf on her belly - a natural position with her raises head for drainage. Don't hold calves upside down.
•  rub the calf with a dry towel - rub backwards from tail to head.
•  stimulate the head with the towel with special attention to the ears, nose and around the eyes - all areas with special sensitivity.
•  compress andshake the windpipe (trachea) -- this will often get the calf to cough.
•  for calves not breathing well, try a bit ice water (take a few ice cubes out with you in a small self-sealing plastic bag - this usually gets a calf to gasp or take a deep breath to inflate her lungs.
•  for calves not breathing well stimulate the nose to get a sneeze response - she suggests poking with a bit of straw in the nostril straight in from the side against the cartilege (sp?) a very sensitive spot OR staight against the end of the nose slightly under the center - again a very sensitive spot.
•  So, a neat little checklist.
•  Oh, did I mention I am at the national Dairy Calf and Heifer conference in Lancaster PA?
•  Maybe something tomorrow our blog.
•  sam
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Weaning without crashing

I am composing for the first time on a smart phone. Whew!
 tuesday I had a discussion with dairymen from around the US about intensive feeding programs for preweaned calves. All of them were feeding between 6 and 9 qts past. milk or a high protein milk replacer mixed @ 15% solids (10 oz makes 2 qts).

All of them had the same experience - calves grow well on lots of milk, calves on lots of milk do not eat much starter grain, whenthey do begin eating grain it is later than whenthey were feeding much less milk.  and, we all are having difficulty maintaining good growth rates after weaning.

That line of discussion moved right into the biology of rumen delopment (how fermentation of starter drives papillae growth, 3 weeks to get enough papillae surface to absorb enough energy for both maintenance and growth for 180 lb calf). We all agreed to review our weaning programs - cut back on milk early enough to get inreased starter intakes long enough to have adequate rumen development before dropping all milk.

[Wrote this one on Wednesday evening - somehow it never was posted - so much for smart phones.]